St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-03
NOT SEAWORTHY.
The Propeller Vernon Unfit for Lake
Navigation.
THE POINTS OF DEFICIENCY.
The General Record of Casualties
and Fires Throughout the
Union.

OhEEN DA1, wis., NOV. S.-AXel
Stone, the sole survivor of the Vernon
wreck, said last night that when the
Vernon left Frankfort at o'clock last
Friday evening her cargo consisted of
apples, fish, potatoes, pig iron and
slaves and the load was unusually
heavy, the boat being loaded about one
foot deeper than usual and the deck be-
ing only about six inches above water.
After leaving Frankfort the weather
was fine and continued so until between
9 and 10, when gale from the north
west set in. Stone says he was on watch
till midnight. The sea rose rapidly and
the boat labored heavily, although she
seemed while he was on deck to steer
pretty well. Her excessive load between
decks prevented the closing of the
gangways. At the gangways the deck
was only about one and One-half inches
above water OH the StarbOard side and
six inches on the port side. She rolled
a good deal and the water was washing
through the gangways. Before that
hour there was at one time considerable
water in the hold, which they pumped
out with syphOn and supposed every
thing was all right. Stone says that be-
fore he went Off watch he ventured to
suggest to the captain that some lading
be thrown off so that the gangways
could be closed, but that the latter re-
fused to do so, and said that he was run
ming that boat. He also says he asked
the mate why they did not turn around
and put back. He says that after the
wreck and while on a raft, one of the
firmen told him that one of the fires was
put out at 3 o'clock. Between and
O'Clock he was awakened by brushing
thn fNf
boats from the deck. He felt the steamer
was laundering, and. putting on a life
preServer, Sprang through a window of
the room into the water.
FIVE FISHING TUGS
went out from Two Rivers, Wis, to-day
and brought back the bodies of seven
teen men and two women who had been
aboard the fOundered propeller Vernon,
making twenty-five bodies that have
been recovered. The engine house at
Two Rivers was turned into morgue,
where the remains were stretched side
by side to enable Identification by the
relatives and friends who flOcked there
from Manitowoc. The faces were all
placid and in good condition. except
two, whose expressions gave evidence
of intense suffering. All were clothed
fully but the two women, who were
without head wear and shoes, but were
otherwise fully attired. Their long
hair was dlShevelled and matted, but
their faces were not diSfigured and they
looked enough alike to be sisters. They
wore skirts of brocaded pattern and
there was nothing about them that en-
abled Identification.
THE FIRST BODY RECOGNIZED
was that of Fred Burk, son of the half
owner of the Northern Michigan line.
As the father gaZed upon the features
of his dead son in the imprOviSed
morgue he gave way to his emotions and
sObbed aloud, while the other Searchers
for beloved ones stood around in silent
sympathy. Only seven of the bodies
were identified: They are: George
ThOrp, of Ogdensburg, n. Y. captain of
the Vernon; John Sullivan, Chicago,
first mate; Larry Higgins, Chicago,
second mate; Martin Lebeau, Chicago,
steward; Henry Lebeau, Chicago. por-
ter; Fred Burk, Chicago, clerk; Roy
Hazleton, Chicago. cabin boy; E. 3.
ROLAND, Milwaukee, passenger. In the
pocket of the coat worn by one of the
unidentified dead was a letter post
marked Port Washington and addressed
to Adolph Hazlebarth, Milwaukee.
There is little doubt that the man is the
person addressed. There is nothing
about the others that will enable identi-
ficatiOn unless viewed by acquaintances.
Several are undoubtedly deck hands.
picked up at various ports.C The bodies
were found about eight miles east of
Two Rivers.
FIVE WERE FLOATING TOGETHER.
The others were scattered, but not
far distant. Several appeared to have
made desperate struggle for life by
means of life preServerS until the jack
cts became saturated and were rem
dered useless. The life preserverS were
i'll some instances too large and slipped
up to the heads of the unfortunates, and
they were found thus, in a perpendicu-
lar position in the water. The tugs re-
port having seen a two-masted vessel
picking up bodies, and it is expected
further reports will be received when
this and other vessels that may have
CHANGED to pick up the floaters reach
their destinations. A bunch of letters
was found on the body of Capt. Thorpe,
but they will not be opened till the in
quest. His watch was stopped at 500
and it was undoubtedly at this hour
Saturday morning that the propeller
went to the bottom.